Dugout Discussion
18 February 2026 782 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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After a bit of a damp squib at Brentford last Thursday, events at Molineux this evening will define Double Gameweek 26 for many Fantasy managers.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal kicks off 20:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

There are no huge surprises with the Arsenal line-up.

Mikel Arteta has made seven changes from the (mostly) second-string side that beat Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup but compared to the Brentford match, there are just three alterations.

One comes at centre-half as William Saliba, who was ill last Thursday, replaces Cristhian Mosquera.

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing inclusion is that of Bukayo Saka, who looks set to reprise the number 10 role he occupied against Wigan.

Gabriel Martinelli also comes in on the left wing, with Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard dropping to the bench.

Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori, passed fit yesterday, are only among the substitutes.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards went quite strong for Sunday’s FA Cup win at Grimsby Town, by contrast.

He makes four changes from that side, bringing back Jose Sa, Hugo Bueno, Angel Gomes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

Cup goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, David Moller Wolfe, Joao Gomes and Tolu Arokodare drop to the bench.

LINE-UPS

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Andre, A Gomes, Bellegarde, Mane, Armstrong.

Subs: Johnstone, Lima, R Gomes, Doherty, Wolfe, Rawlings, J Gomes, Edozie, Arokodare.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Madueke, Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly.


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout this season is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DefCon) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

Saka 10

price change predictions
782 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Old Bull
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    The Arsenal manager who could have won this league is at Villa.

    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      No

    2. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Not sure about that as well. Emery for some reason despite being good in cups is similarly negative and passive in the league in big matches.

  2. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    Arsenal never fail to disappoint.

  3. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    sup with the whack playstation sup

  4. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    if rice gets given the 1 bonus from brentford match, will end up with 14 points off the back of 1 assist. fpl is so weird now

    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Was going to enjoy that I captained him but ruined now

    2. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      yeah I understood the removal of man in the stand bonus calcs (felt like darts being thrown half the time) but this recalculation stuff is like var for fpl, tedious and unnecessary

      1. TallestJohn
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        I was only half paying attention when I heard it (either on BlackBox or Scoutcast) but am I correct that the last match of the GW doesn't get recalculated as the GW is finalised soon after?

        1. riot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 4 hours ago

          Haven't been watching content this season but yes it is inconsistent in some way

  5. iFash@FPL
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    What’s it with Arsenal and February???????

    1. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      YOU’VE ONLY GOT TO JUST LAUGH AND LAUGH.

    2. Flying Dutchman
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Fatigue and pressure

  6. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    how much did Rice score today? I'm drunk

    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      9

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      None, just an assist 😛

    3. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      lovely jubbly. we'll be millionaires next year rodders

      1. riot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        huge

  7. DropkickMurphys
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    I have been repeatedly saying Gabriel and Van Dijk being actually extremely overrated defenders. How many more losses are each of em gonna cause their team before people say wait a second.

    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      I think there is very little evidence for this statement

    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      17 points from VvD as first on my bench. TC Gabriel. Stop that. Enough is enough.

    3. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      That version of Van Dijk 7 years ago is probably the best defender of all time

      1. Craigsimpson
        • 2 Years
        2 months, 4 hours ago

        "Van Dijk best defender of all time"
        - started watching footy in 2017

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 4 hours ago

          Why would he have had an account here 1 year before watching football Craig

          1. Craigsimpson
            • 2 Years
            2 months, 4 hours ago

            Don't know mate why don't you ask him?

            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              2 months, 4 hours ago

              “Don't know mate why don't you ask him?”

              - started watching footy in 2026

              1. Craigsimpson
                • 2 Years
                2 months, 4 hours ago

                "“Don't know mate why don't you ask him?”

                - started watching footy in 2026"

                - doesn't watch footy

  8. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    The only positive thing in sports today was ice hockey in Olympics. And Gabriel assist xD This reminds me of captaining Cancelo when MCI had 63% chance of CS and he was the safest pick. It ended up him getting RC because of being at fault of pen. Some seasons are just crazy.

  9. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 5 hours ago

    Hey fam! Is this worth -8?

    Mbeumo, Mane & Timber to Semenyo, Thiago & Hill

    I know Mbeumo is a hold right now, but

    - Triple Arsenal defence is too much
    - I think City will go all out in the league now. Semenyo is essential if you can bench hum in GW31
    - Thiago is Thiago

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Roll FT

    2. Flying Dutchman
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Keep Mbeumo, minus 8 is too much.

    3. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Step away from the Hit Maker!

  10. Absolutely Muñozed
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      O'reilly or Guehi?

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        Guehi

      2. Kane Train
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        Guehi

    • Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Semenyo (NEW) or Joao Pedro (BUR) for the captaincy?

      Think City will really have the bit between their teeth now...

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        Pedro

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        Burnley is so much worse than Newcastle that I'm still on Pedro

    • Kane Train
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Is there still a chance that more teams will blank in GW31 or is that settled now

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        Settled. Small chance that City and Palace might still play in it though

    • Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Saka with 18 DC points

    • Koflok
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      1. Richards to
      A) Van Dijk
      B) Guehi
      C) Munoz

      2. Rice to
      A) Wirtz
      B) Semenyo

      1. Flying Dutchman
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        A
        B

    • OverTinker
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 5 hours ago

      Wolves can come back next season

    • Tripswich
        2 months, 5 hours ago

        Arteta has to go if Arsenal can't finish the job this season.

        1. Flying Dutchman
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 5 hours ago

          You think any other manager will win the title for Arsenal? If Arteta can’t, no one probably will either

          1. Tripswich
              2 months, 4 hours ago

              I'm not sure if that's a rigorous defence of Arteta or a jibe at the club's mentality.

              But they've won the Premier league three times, and yeah I think with the squad they've built that the right manager will get them over the line.

          2. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 4 hours ago

            Why would he get sacked when he’s delivering CL football every season

            1. Tripswich
                2 months, 4 hours ago

                I would imagine that with the squad they've invested in, their hierarchy expects them to win the league at some attempt.

                I don't think they'll be content with annual CL qualification.

                1. x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  They’ve invested in the squad to secure CL football. I severely doubt any club in the league goes into the season with the expectations of winning it - especially with Guardiola about.

                  1. Tripswich
                      2 months, 4 hours ago

                      If he fails this season keeping him would be tantamount to admitting they'll never win the league under him, which they wouldn't.

                      For the record I do think that both he'll bottle it and he won't be there next year.

                      1. x.jim.x
                        • 11 Years
                        2 months, 4 hours ago

                        I think that’s a load of nonsense tbh. If Guardiola leaves, they easily become favourites to win, unless someone gets Ancelotti or Enrique.

                        1. Tripswich
                            2 months, 4 hours ago

                            Yeah I don't think they'd recover mentally from falling short this season, they've had alot go their way this year.

                            I guess we'll see.

              • RealSocialDads
                • 9 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Only just transferred him in but he looked awful tonight, and arsenal look poor as a team.

                Timber to:

                A. Hill
                B. Lewis Potter
                C. VVD

                1. OverTinker
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  Guehi?

                  1. RealSocialDads
                    • 9 Years
                    2 months, 5 hours ago

                    Already tripled on City - Oreilly Semenyo Haaland

              • Count of Monte Hristo
                • 12 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                You like me moves?

                Enzo > Dango

                Chalobah > Guehi

                DCL > Ekitike

                This will be after Chelsea v Burnley

                1. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  Yeah

                  I prefer Wirtz JP/Thiago to Dango Ekitike, but it's close

                  1. Count of Monte Hristo
                    • 12 Years
                    2 months, 5 hours ago

                    Own Thiago already.

                    If I went for Wirtz + Pedro I would only have 3.8 for Chalobah replacement?

                    Other defenders are Gabriel, Timber, Andersen, Hill

                    1. Count of Monte Hristo
                      • 12 Years
                      2 months, 5 hours ago

                      Gudmundsson + Reinildo an option at 3.8 and both play in GW31.

                    2. Ze_Austin
                      • 7 Years
                      2 months, 5 hours ago

                      I'd sell Timber before Chalobah

                      Park Chalobah on the bench until the blank. He gets DCs

                      That probably gets you up to a Villa defender or Mukiele, I hope

                      1. Count of Monte Hristo
                        • 12 Years
                        2 months, 4 hours ago

                        Selling Timber only buys me a 4.0 defender of if I get Wirtz and JP. Still have time to think what moves could work best.

              • Kantelele
                • 3 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Time to reduce triple Arsenal, sell one :
                A) Timber
                B) Rice

                1. Flying Dutchman
                  • 15 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  A

                2. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  You're only gonna get Timber as an answer after tonight

              • fedolefan
                • 11 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                5 point red arrow after a Gyok(c) shocker down to 250k. Deserve a ban from this site after that move. Going to go on a sabbatical for a bit. Hate that I'm going to bring in that chump Thiago for Gyok as well. Feck off.

              • OverTinker
                • 7 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Transfer out one for Semenyo
                1. Rice
                2. Mbeumo
                3. Enzo
                4. Rogers

                1. Flying Dutchman
                  • 15 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  3

                  1. Baps Hunter
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 8 Years
                    2 months, 5 hours ago

                    Not when Enzo has Burnley. We all know what may happen in that game. Predicting scorers vs them is difficult.

                2. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  Enzo next GW

                  1. OverTinker
                    • 7 Years
                    2 months, 5 hours ago

                    Hard to not get Semenyo so have to make the transfer this GW

                    1. Ze_Austin
                      • 7 Years
                      2 months, 4 hours ago

                      Newcastle have a midfield now, and fit full-backs

                      It might not be as one-way as expected, especially with Qarabag failing to stress them out

                3. Sun Jihai
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  Feels like you should be rolling FTs where possible ATM

                4. Baps Hunter
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  Supposing you have Bruno F, we have same midfield. Enzo has to go next week.

              • Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Rice substituted for Timber in my bus team now.

              • The Bandit
                • 15 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Raya to Kelleher or Roefs? Both nice fixtures

                1. The FPL Units
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 16 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  Kelleher

                  1. The Bandit
                    • 15 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    Yep, just remembered that I have Alderete, so makes sense, unless there is an alternative I’ve missed. Cheers

                2. Baps Hunter
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  Kelleher has saved two pens for me. I am happy to keep now. However, I don't know how good he is at saving them. Donnarumma has to be the best one, I think.

                  1. The Bandit
                    • 15 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    I can afford him, but not sure he’s any better than Raya in FPL terms

                3. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  I'm going Roefs/Dubravka to Kelleher next GW, if that helps

                  Xhaka being back soon is a factor, yet those Brentford fixtures are awesome

              • WVA
                • 9 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Gabriel rising in price after that performance

              • Richm
                • 4 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Any defcons for Gabriel?
                App is not right

                1. The FPL Units
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 16 Years
                  2 months, 5 hours ago

                  No

              • The FPL Units
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                Rice to Palmer locked in now me thinks.

                1. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  What about Rice's performance makes you want to sell him?

                  1. Captain Beefheart
                    • 12 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    Personally I was always keeping him

                  2. The FPL Units
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 16 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    Palmer upside, I have Anderson as well, who is basically matching Rice atm.

              • Captain Beefheart
                • 12 Years
                2 months, 5 hours ago

                That Arsenal terrace chant back for next season "you bottled it....."

                1. RealSocialDads
                  • 9 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  "you nearly won the league" is an all time classic

                  Wolves singing second again ole ole tonight also good

                  1. Captain Beefheart
                    • 12 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    Haha it is indeed

              • Bobby Digital
                • 8 Years
                2 months, 4 hours ago

                Get rid of Rice or Cunha for Semenyo?

                1. Ignasi M
                  • 8 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  get rid of all arsenal. we're dead.

                  1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                    • 11 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    Keep the faith !

                2. Baps Hunter
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  Cunha is a riddance imo.

              • OneTeamInBristol
                • 2 Years
                2 months, 4 hours ago

                Allison
                Gab Timber Chalobah
                Garner Rice Mbuemo Bruno F Enzo
                Haaland Ekiteke
                2ft, 0.8itb

                A) Garner to Dango and roll other ft
                B) Timber and Guiu to Hill and Thiago
                C) Rice to Semenyo and roll other ft
                D) Roll

                Thanks all!!

                1. StayoutheSpiceZone
                  • 8 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  I like a or b

                  1. OneTeamInBristol
                    • 2 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    Thanks. If I do B, I can do Enzo to Dango next week.

              • StayoutheSpiceZone
                • 8 Years
                2 months, 4 hours ago

                Should I move for Thiago or Ekitike this week? The other will come in next …

                1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                  • 11 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  Thiago

                  1. StayoutheSpiceZone
                    • 8 Years
                    2 months, 4 hours ago

                    You reckon BHA more brittle than Forest?

                2. OneTeamInBristol
                  • 2 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  Thiago due to pens

                3. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 4 hours ago

                  Ekitike